The orchid that launched a thousand ships has crinkled brown and yellow petals. On seeing it, the Duke of Devonshire became so obsessed that he built a greenhouse the size of an acre, burning 300 tonnes of coal each winter to carry heat via seven miles of pipes to maintain his collection of orchids. Growing plants in greenhouses and displaying them in their homes was a way of showing status for the Victorians; the Duke of Devonshire was just doing this on an epic scale, commensurate with his wealth and his enthusiasm for orchids.

Psychopsis papilio: the orchid that entranced the Duke of Devonshire. Photograph: Susanne Masters

At the opening of the New York Botanical Garden’s orchid show Orchidelirium, Marc Hachadourian, manager of the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections, explained that it was the charms of the drab but statuesque Psychopsis papilio that launched not only the Duke of Devonshire’s orchid obsession but also the orchid fervour that gripped society. Orchidelirium was anobsession and enthusiasm for orchids that reached such heights that individual plants could sell for the equivalent of tens of thousands of pounds at modern day prices. More than a century later, orchidelirium continues unabated, although orchids are now transported by planes rather than ships.

Victorian times were an age of scientific discovery and exploration of the world, and orchids were very much part of this. Marc described how Charles Darwin saw an orchid with white flowers that are scented at night and have foot long nectaries. Darwin stated there must be a moth with a tongue long enough to pollinate Angraecumsesquipedale - in other words, a moth with a 12-inch tongue. This was a shocking revelation from the scientist who had concluded that people were descended from apes. And Darwin was right. Years after his death Xanthopan morganii and its 12-inch tongue was found to be the pollinator of A. sesquipedale.

Marc also talked about orchid collecting practices in Victorian times: “Collectors lied about where orchids were found. They burned the forest after collecting to prevent their competitors from having orchids that they had discovered. In modern days this wouldn’t be thought of as ethical. At the time orchids were considered to be so abundant it was of little consequence. Some orchids were even used as packing material for other orchids.” Today the approach to orchids is different - conducting research and working to prevent illegal trade of wild-collected orchids. Illegally traded orchids seized by customs are taken care of by New York Botanical Garden’s CITES rescue centre programme.

This year’s NYBG orchid show takes orchidelirium as its theme, but contextualises it for modern times by including references to the botanical garden’s current research and conservation work. The story of orchidelirium is narrated through a succession of displays: a Wardian case of the kind used to transport orchids on their long sea journeys from the tropics to Europe is crammed with orchids; diminutive Epidendrum polinii poised under a magnifying glass contrasts Paphiopedilum sanderianum, which can have petals over 1m long, the longest petals of any plant in the world. Juxtaposing such different species gives an indication of the diversity of the orchids.

Transport of delight: a Wardian case full of orchids at the 2016 New York Botanic gardens orchid show. Photograph: Susanne Masters

Christian Primeau, manager of the Enid A Haupt Conservatory and designer of this year’s orchid show, described some of the work that went into creating the show. “Orchidelirium has a different meaning for my staff and I because we’ve been working 13 hour days getting the show ready. It is a celebration of the collectors’ passion and a homage to them, some of whom even gave up their lives hunting orchids.”

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A towering pinnacle of orchids topped by a waterfall is the centrepiece of the show. The inspiration for this comes from James Bateman, another famous Victorian orchid collector. As well as showing off his orchids at home, Bateman commissioned a book based on his orchid collection. It takes two people to carry Orchidaceae of Mexico and Guatemala, which measures 3ft by 4ft. It includes a woodcut image of a stone mountain constructed in his epiphyte house at Knypersley estate in Staffordshire that was intended to reconstruct the natural habitat of his tropical plants. Steel cubes clad with chicken wire provide the base for the construction in the Enid A Haupt conservatory. Staff transformed it into a paradisiacal vision of nature by covering it with orchids. An access door concealed by plants allows staff inside to water the orchids displayed on the exterior.

Christian said, “My hope is orchid enthusiasts will be as psyched about the show as plant enthusiasts.” Mark said, “Orchids are the charismatic pandas of the plant world. Everyone loves them. We can lure people in with them and teach them about the plant world.” In both these measures NYBG’s Orchidelirium show is a success. It certainly provides an enticing visual display that will delight anyone.

Walking through the show unfolds the engaging story of orchideliriumfrom its beginning with P. papilio to current orchid conservation work. Orchid enthusiasts can certainly be intrigued by the history of their hobby, and delight in the excellent condition of the plants and range of species on display.

For gardeners at home there is plenty of food for thought. I was captivated by the unusual combination of pink and brown in the flowers of a Tolumnia hybrid. Not everyone’s budget can stretch to a Wardian case, but terrariums are a cheaper way to fulfil the classic gardener’s technique of providing desired plants with the environmental conditions they need so that they can thrive in places they would not normally grow. A humid glass enclosure is a good way to keep tropical cloud forest orchids happy, whether they are on a ship or in the dry air of a home. It is a reminder of the attention to detail Victorian gardeners paid to gardening techniques and showcasing plants. At its simplest level for anyone taking a leisurely orchid-filled walk through the Orchidelirium show it is a colourful and enchanting experience.